that were completed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that were completed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to actions or tasks that have been finished in the past. Example: "The projects that were completed last month received positive feedback from the clients."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It does not apply to any adoptions that were completed before then.

The New York Times

So the November reading should reflect sales that were completed last month and into this month.

The New York Times

The investigations in 1999 and 2000 led to separate reform agreements that were completed by 2009.

The Washington Post

Over five hours, the Mets announced four moves that were completed over the last three days.

The New York Times - Sports

Improvements that were completed in 1982 expanded the terminal north to another half-block between 41st and 42nd Streets.

The New York Times

He went over to the fridge, where a menu was posted, and crossed out items that were completed.

The New Yorker

Its developments that were completed before that date, are managed by third-party companies, led by FirstPort.

The Guardian - Money

The reforms that were completed proved ineffective, demonstrating that the economy had become too complex to be regulated by fiat.

Britannica

Participants may not retroactively earn IB Honors credit for research projects that were completed before enrolling in H196A.

University of California, Berkeley

Only nine sales like that were completed during all of last year, compared with 101 in 2007.

The New York Times

The companies said the agency wanted more information from patient trials that were completed since Bristol and Merck submitted data in support of the application.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that were completed" to provide context or detail about the finished state of something in your writing.

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses. If you start describing a series of events in the past tense, maintain that tense throughout the sentence when using "that were completed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that were completed" functions as a relative clause modifying a noun. It provides additional information about something which has been finished. This construction is very common as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that were completed" is a versatile phrase used to specify items that have been finished, as confirmed by Ludwig. It's grammatically correct and commonly found across varied sources. While it can be employed in many contexts, awareness of correct tense usage is key. Alternatives exist to refine your meaning, but "that were completed" remains a clear and effective choice for describing completed actions or items.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that had been finalized

Emphasizes the conclusive and official nature of the completion.

which had been finished

A more informal alternative focusing on the act of finishing.

that were concluded

Highlights the termination or ending of something.

that were executed

Suggests a more formal or planned completion, often used for projects or tasks.

that were accomplished

Emphasizes the successful achievement of a goal.

that were realized

Focuses on the bringing into being or achievement of something planned.

that were fulfilled

Indicates that a requirement or promise has been met.

that saw completion

A more literary or formal way of saying something was finished.

that reached conclusion

Highlights the process of arriving at an end point.

that were discharged

Implies a freeing or release from obligation upon completion.

FAQs

How can I use "that were completed" in a sentence?

You can use "that were completed" to specify which tasks, projects, or items have been finished. For example, "The projects "that were completed" last quarter exceeded expectations."

What are some alternatives to "that were completed"?

Alternatives include phrases like "that were finished", "that were finalized", or "that were concluded", depending on the specific context.

Is it more formal to say "that were completed" or "that were finished"?

"That were completed" tends to be slightly more formal than "that were finished". The choice depends on the overall tone of your writing.

How does "that were completed" differ from "that are completed"?

"That were completed" refers to items finished in the past, while "that are completed" refers to items finished in the present or as a general ongoing process.